More than a store, Halls is a Kansas City tradition.
Long known for fine quality, exceptional service and an atmosphere of elegance, Halls today has achieved true destination status – an experience not to be missed.

Since the first Halls store opened its doors almost a century ago, Halls has set the standard in Kansas City for retail shopping excellence. Created by Hallmark founder Joyce C. Hall to “always be first with the best in Kansas City,” Halls today occupies locations in two of the city's most popular destinations: the Country Club Plaza, famous for its fountains, Moorish architecture, extravagant holiday lighting, fabulous restaurants and prestigious shops, and Crown Center, the high-energy shopping, office and creative heart of downtown, developed and anchored by Hallmark Cards, Inc.

“Let's go into Halls.” A constantly evolving environment of elegance and innovation crowns the Halls shopping experience. For example, while Halls Plaza is known for extensive china and silver collections, its creative table settings alone are worth a visit. The holidays require a trip to Halls to see how the most gorgeous trees are being decorated this year. Inspiring settings in Halls' Gardengate are the first sign of spring. No wedding gift is opened with more anticipation and delight than a Halls gift with its lavish ribbon bow.

Halls began as a single showcase in the lobby of the Gordon and Koppel Building at 1005 Walnut Street in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. On display were samples of the paper craft and postcard line being sold throughout Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska by Hall Brother, the fledgling young firm founded by Joyce C. Hall.

In 1916, the retail operation moved into a small space at 111 East 11th on fashionable “Petticoat Lane.” A greater variety of high-quality merchandise was displayed, including leather goods, pen and pencil sets, glass and china art pieces, gold and silver art items, as well as stationery, party goods and paper products. Thirty-four years and several expansions later, Halls moved to 1114 Grand Avenue downtown, where it continued to flourish as a top-quality specialty store.

Halls Plaza opened on October 4, 1965 at 211 Nichols Road (its current location) on the Country Club Plaza, a larger retail operation in what is still Kansas City's most prestigious shopping district. Luxuriously appointed and continuously updated with modern visual displays, Halls Plaza houses the Midwest's finest selection of men's and women's fashion, shoes, accessories, beauty resources, home accessories, china, crystal, and a fabulous Jewel Room. The store and parking complex cover an entire city block where a multi-level, 700-car parking facility offers direct, weather-proof access to the store.

In 1973, the original downtown Halls store closed and plans began for a contemporary Halls Crown Center location. Today, Halls for Her, The Store for Men and Downstairs for Men occupy 3 separate locations on the third level of Crown Center Shops, providing a unique selection of men's and women's career and casual clothes to meet the needs of nearby business and professional workers as well as condo dwellers. Corporate Gift Services provide a logical extension to this time saving, work-enhancing shopping environment.

A world-renowned store with strong hometown roots, Halls maintains a long-standing tradition of community support, hosting elegant special events in partnership with cultural and humanitarian organizations to help raise awareness and funds. Organizations with whom Halls has cooperated include:
Avila University
The American Red Cross Missouri Disaster Relief
Back in the Swing USA
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City
The Brain Injury Association of Kansas & Greater Kansas City
Carol J. Fabian M.D. Leadership & Legacy Fund
Children's Center for the Visually Impaired
Children's Place
Children's SPOT - Saint Luke's Hospital Foundation
DIFFA - Kansas City Dining By Design
Friends of the Zoo - Jazoo Gala
Harvesters
Kansas City Art Institute
Kansas City Ballet
Kansas City Free Health Clinic
Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey
Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Inc.
Kansas City Symphony Ball
Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
Lyric Opera of Kansas City
Missys' Mirror of The Cancer Institute at Saint Luke's Hospital
Ronald McDonald House Charities
Rose Brooks Center, Inc.
Starlight Theatre Gala
Turning Point, The Center for Hope & Healing
UCP of Greater Kansas City - Hats Off to Mothers
Wayside Waifs, Kansas City's Humane Society
Women's Cardiac Care Center at Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute
Women's Division Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City
Women's Employment Network
Women's Foundation of Greater Kansas City

Joyce C. Hall was often heard to say “good quality is good business.” Halls has built and maintained a reputation based on this principle, providing generations of Kansas City residents and visitors a shopping destination with unparalleled access to the exceptional.